Life is a funny old thing..
Dropping off half a dozen bags at a charity shop in Coín this morning the track on the CD said it all really.. if I could actually remember the title i would insert here! But it was very apt for now.
And I am now ensconced in a studio apartment down in La Cala de Mijas for a couple of nights.
I watched a very good movie already now onto a second one called The Portable Door, talking of coincidence and mishaps and strange occurrences that bring us where we are every step of the way!
I go through phases of reading horoscopes..
But today's said
January 30th, 2024
The Universe is saying to you today: "Focus on what is available to you in the present moment, rather than on what you feel is missing from your life. Set clear intentions and have the courage to take the steps needed to get there. Keep moving forward."
M.
A very different view from yesterday afternoon, I had been down the coast with my friend and neighbor, tagging along for the ride.. And as we were about to turn off through a polígono and back onto the Alhaurín road, I said we were on the original Mijas pueblo road and he said he wanted to see the route...
So up we went, remember I last took it coming back from the coast a few months back?I think after a tattoo. It's a route we used to use all the time, just nice, away from the tourist run and a bit risky!
This photograph was taken up near Mijas pueblo, the aim was the coastal view, the outcome was the tree! Well positioned, central stage and front!
'Aging is an extraordinary process whereby you become the person you always should have been.'
I really like this David Bowie quote... I like the thought, the idea, that we are just becoming..
Always becoming until... We have become!
I had a terrible night! Awake at four, so got some mint tea and turned on the tv, watched a wonderful short music documentary called The Last Repair Shop.. Wonderful...
Then after another couple of episodes of something else I went back to sleep at seven!
Getting very out of sync doing this, but no work today and what the heck!
This massive spring clean I have underway is very good for my mind, and soul.. mostly.
Not so much the body, keep jumping up and moving stuff, either to charity or rubbish bags! Kind of need to relax a bit!
And my big issue with attachment makes it very difficult.. letting go of things I've had since being an adult... Am I yet an adult? If still becoming?
Letting go of my mom's things even more difficult, and my grandmothers? And great grandmothers things?? Seriously? Why do I have them? Especially needlework, buttons! Of the latter.
She had numerous children and yet, it is I who have these things that weigh heavy with me... My boys most certainly won't want them, and do I have to burden my grandchildren with them!
What a legacy!
At last this morning I have removed the DVDs I don't watch but kept, the small game machine I don't play and kept, and the CDs.. will join the others out of the plastic and into the CD carriers!
Had about four or five unnamed DVDs, two were blank two were films, and the last, strangely was one I thought lost years ago, so was wonderful to find and poignant, it made me very happy and very sad at the same time, and also seemed a message to say, you're doing good!
Yesterday having coffee in town with friends, at the old 'office' destination.. and why I at last sorted out the DVDs always in view every morning as I have my breakfast..
Yesterday, talking about the books I have done for Peter Maddocks, and other authors, one of the friends at the table said she has had a book in the planning stage for a while, the planning idea always in view, which I think in a way something we see every day we start to stop seeing, it becomes just a part of our lives, not something in action, as it were ...
I had some suggestions and I hope I've given her the oomph to get going on her book... I really hope so actually, because I left the table feeling so good at hopefully getting someone else to feel good about her book!
M.
“See with a different eye, visualize with a colorful mind, manifest your thoughts with the energy within.”
Michael Bassey Johnson
Sorry, unlike me to use another's work, but it's just how I'm feeling..
Today would have been my mom's 96th birthday.. I miss her more.. raising a glass of wine foe you mom... I remember finding a bottle of wine with the makers name Muriel, on the bottle, she was so pleased...
Busy days at work, and my knee or back, or both are playing up all the time now ..
Although I've seen a local osteopath twice now .. absolutely fantastic, saw her yesterday and pain today, but I'm pushing myself or my body too much these days.
I hear a blackbird every morning and evening near the house, a new visitor, because haven't heard him before.. and he reminded me of a blackbird I heard at a customers in Witney, every morning and evening.. the blackbird welcomed in the day, and sang the day out every evening, such a beautiful song... Never heard one in Spain before, not singing like this... Maybe he's calling me to move forward...
M.
Once upon a time, there was the simple understanding that to sing at dawn and to sing at dusk was to heal the world through joy.
The birds still remember what we have forgotten.
~Terry Tempest Williams
🙏💜💫
Did I post this already?
Apologies if I have.. I love the way the mountains always look so different, the time of day, the time of the year, the weather.. Every moment of every day is different..
Haven't done much today, worked yesterday and at last I think the pain is better in my leg.. been five or six weeks now... And it got so much more incredibly worse the last couple of weeks, then .. a bit better.. Still getting it checked tomorrow, I need to find out the cause or it'll be back, and could be worse ..
It has been debilitating not to be able to walk anywhere, I haven't walked into town since January the 1st. I have managed to walk up to Bar Monika with extreme pain and hobbled home again, it has been okay in work because although it's hard going there's not much distance to walk, thankfully.
Walking is my thing, can't imagine not being able to just walk where and when I want.. also although sleeping has never been an easy thing for me, at least laying down in bed had been ok, now even that is very painful.. on all sides!
A man came into the store yesterday, probably late 50's early 60's... He bought whatever and said something about something and then we were talking about cooking for one, and other stuff.. he said "living the dream eh!" And yes, so many of us came over, came here, for our dreams, many of us found our dreams. And so many lost them again.
I guess this is probably true of all people who pick-up and choose to take their belongings, hopes and dreams to other countries.. It can be amazing and wonderful and everything and more than expected, and it can be the opposite.
These days we are lucky that air travel is easy, and unlike yesteryear when they couldn't go back, even to visit, and goodbye meant goodbye.
My grandparents said goodbye to family in Naples a hundred years ago, boarded a ship and never returned...
Can't imagine how they felt.. I'm bad enough leaving places I know I can, could, come back to.. but then maybe I have attachment issues!
M.
'The lives we don't live'
Early Middle Age (ages 35--44), Late Middle Age (ages 45--64), and Late Adulthood (ages 65 and older).
So funny! So both my boys are middle-aged! And I'm in late middle age! Just!!
Watching an old Rosemary and Thyme episode, the description is on, because I can't turn it off!! And she said, 'Rosemary, a petite late middle-aged woman...'
And I thought, when is middle aged? When does that end!
And above was my answer in Google!
So funny!
I am, shall never, feel old; definitely don't feel old yet, in spite of a couple of things not feeling too good just now.. they don't define my age...
And this photo below..
Do you remember it? From a while ago now, maybe eight or nine years ago..
It was a photographic competition I was in, the title was 'Toast' anything drawn or photography, but Toast was the subject.
I was working in Swindon Village, and the client had these amazing Pacific oyster shells! Amazing! So I decided I'd place this beautiful piece of well buttered toast upon an old plate, with old knife here!
Didn't think anyone else would! They didn't!
Automated spelling came up with battered instead of buttered to start with, I wonder what battered toast would be like? Gone off on a far flung tangent now!
Been warm enough all day, windows open, but I can really feel the temperature dropping now.. looks like we're going down to 2° overnight.. we
As usual, feel like I have so much more to tell you!
Oh! Yesterday! During the day, sat here, watching tv, I muted it because I could hear something downstairs.. It was my mom's musical snow globe! I ran down and it continued until I reached it!
I think the last time that happened was on her birthday, not last year, the year before...
Her birthday is this month...
M.
Last evening view across the Guadalhorce vally..
Taken to drinking colacoa of a night time, was adding a shake cinnamon powder and ginger into the brew...
Now it's a broken cinnamon stick and Star Anis! Beautiful; and Star Anise is very good for numerous things, although it seems a different Star Anise can get mixed up or purposely mixed up and it's a poisonous type!
We worked on the second, stock taking!
And I was sort of expecting, but not wanting, a phone call from the hospital with my results from the biopsies taken, not, because I had in my head that the second would be the latest I'd hear, and then relax until hospital appointment February 7th.
So counting away in work, and telephone rang! Hospital!! Panic, but she had the wrong name?!? So now not entirely sure whether it was wrong number right name, or right number wrong name??
No call back so have to hope it was the first option and not the latter.
We've had some rain! And not before time, but nothing worth writing about, drizzle and sparse at that.. nothing that will change our empty embalses, reservoirs..
Says 18.9° out on the street and it's 10° in doors.. I'll be lighting the fire soon!
I've roasted veggies for dinner for tonight and leftovers for tomorrow!
M.
A poem to end
Part and parcel of wishes and dreams
Often thought and sometimes lost
Excitement, adventure and treasure
Memories return, memories made
A poem to end where we begin
©MB
Went into town today, not too cold either, had coffee with a friend and came home; house is swept, mopped and dusted! Washing done and dried, ready for work tomorrow... Just the bare tree left now.. looking like a pot plant!
Cousin from Watford called me, we were on the phone a while, hadn't spoken for a few years so was good catch up.. my moms cousins daughter..
My day has ended with hot chocolate with a sprinkle of cinnamon and ginger! Very nice!
I had some boxes in the house which are now in the car ready for the bins tomorrow, I had to check there were no rats inside! Or had been inside! Before putting in the back! Could imagine a rat running around in the car while I'm driving!
Well, not much content here!
Must have some interesting stories!
There were fires overnight around Mijas areas, fireworks, of course, we've had little or no rain, everything is still fairly tinder dry, so still the fires catch!
Fireworks have been going off for about five days and last night started early evening, so I am guessing some confusion as to when midnight is, or even what date is the beginning of the new year!
No sarcasm here, I am deadly serious!
Saturday I went into town after coffee with a mate up this end, had more coffee with my friend who I published so many books for years ago, now...
I then went down to another friend, and went to the coast for stock for him and a few bits for me; the store, used to be a public supermarket/furniture store, it's where my dining table and bench came from, over twenty years ago!
Then we went to a store up the top of Miraflores, I hadn't been in there for about ten, twelve years! Was like passing over old memories..
I have, had, been watching Columbo, and an episode ended just now, Series 7, episode 4.. and it ended!
Need to post! Or miss my mission!
This year will be amazing! Everything will be!
M.
And tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Alfred Tennyson, Ulysses
Thought I'd begin with my favourite poem .. one of!!
So many roads have gotten each of us to where we are to today
Millions of choices, chances, and decisions..
'New year's eve, an end to the old year, and a link to the hope of the new year to come'
So many people find today the day to re access their lives...
Funny how one day, date, can make such a huge impact on people..
When over millennium, this date wasn't a date at all!
Great song
M.
To take the Christmas decs down before 12th night or after??
A predicament I was thinking wasn't one.
I've always taken them down anywhere from the 26th until the 5th..
Conversation on Christmas day made me research my reasons, the reason for keeping up until the 12th night is the superstition surrounding the arrival of the Magi, and them taking twelve days to get to baby Jesus with their gifts... Therefore a deep rooted Christian reason.
And the superstition I go by is the bad luck surrounding leaving the tree up after the 5th January..
Where if you do, you should leave it up! Or bad luck ...
And this comes from the tree elves that cause havoc if the tree is left up after the 5th! An ancient pagan and Celt belief...
Oh dear, the older I get the more superstitions I collect!
So I have taken down everything, bar the tree! Which will come down on the evening of the 5th, so it's down before the thirteenth day!
Flipping heck!
And talking of elves.. the elf on the shelf ... There's a link here, a link for info and a pagan link!
M.
Cake! From my local panadería!
Need to catch up with myself as usual, I'm so spasmodic in my writing!
Let me begin with Christmas Eve working all day, but dressed as Mrs Santa Clause!!
Was good fun, the customers loved it! And I enjoyed it too! That's it now for dressing up until Halloween comes around again!
My feet hurt, wearing inappropriate Boot-Ware!
Reminds me afterwards how I don't even notice my feet during work! Thank you Sketchers!
I stayed up to do the Harry Potter challenge! Had to start watching Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone at 22:33, so that Ronald Weasley would say 'Happy Christmas' at exactly 00:00 in the movie and for real!
My playback wouldn't work and Christmas Eve came four minutes late in the movie! Can't believe I'd managed to stay awake! And miss it!
I had a couple of gifts under my tree which I opened and went to bed! Was about one before I switched everything off though...
Christmas day I got up when I was ready, and headed down to the coast and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon and evening with a family who adopted me for Christmas! Was so lovely, I am so lucky, dinner was amazing, absolutely fantastic.. thank you thank you thank you!
Back to work yesterday, the 27th and in today..
Yesterday driving home, I dropped off two colleagues and came up the usual mountain road home, there's a right hand turn once around our side of Sierra de Mijas, the road changes back to one lane, and there was a two car accident.. the line of traffic going back towards home went down into the dip, ours, luckily, not so bad ..
It's always tricky when two lanes become one here... It seems to be a race for some drivers to beat the car in the inside lane, it's not a race, and of course... No one wins...
I drove up the dip from there, and was on the wriggly bit of the road before Casa las Flores on the left, and the window down, hadn't turned back on the radio since the accident, it was dark, and no one close in front, no one behind, and a light caught my eye, up high in the sky, a bolt of fire like a meteor then zap, out and gone! No noise, no firework type of explosion!
Very, very strange!
Driving down as usual this morning to work, such beautiful amazing views, sunrise over the Med... And looking towards the area behind La Cala de Mijas, and onwards towards Rivera and Calahonda, what used to be undefined can now be mapped out by yellow street lights...
Used to just be green and gray rock .. now, civilization is creeping inwards..
I wonder if one day it will just be mass all the way to Alhaurín El Grande.. and I hope I do not get to see it!
Mmm interesting thing I just noticed, I meant mass as in larger/large, and of course, Spanish word 'mas' means 'more' muy interesante!
M.
Still plenty of after effects from March 2022 Sahara drop!
Well, I think my body is having enough of stuff just now!
Stuff that's stayed dormant or at least I've lived with and tried to ignore..
Feels like a trapped nerve in my left hip, but I think it's where various, numerous problems are have just said enough is enough!
And, at last I now know why I have had stomachache for .. I keep saying eighteen months, but it's been so long saying that that I think it could be two years now..
Anyways, had the endoscopy down my throat, I was given anesthesia, thought I'd just not feel anything, but was completely out!
So I have ten fundic polyps in my tummy...
They've taken two biopsies, one from a large one, and one from a smaller.
Could be Atrophic gastritis or celiac disease.. being tested for both in the biopsy...
Appointment for February for results.
Day off today and going down to the coast for lunch..
Working next three days then in on Sunday for Christmas Eve!
Feel like I'm missing something out!
Oh!!! At work the other day, track came on the radio, we started singing and dancing to it! As we do!!!
I couldn't remember the band, from the 70's... I said "is it easy jet?" Randomly!! "Black box?" My colleague said back to me...
I googled it! Pilot!
Of course!
My microwave has broken and my kitchen gas lighter!
I went down to Miramar parque to look for a new one in Mediamarkt way too many people in there!
So I went next door to Kiabi! Where I bought a whole new outfit!
Won't help with heating food, but... Well, felt good!
M.
A neighbor just stopped to chat with me, his wife and him live around the corner, Franco always spoke with them, and helped with things... Lovely local couple.
It's so lovely when someone speaks to me about Franco, who knew him, who said what a good man he was, kind, generous, thoughtful.. after over six years still talks with sadness at his dying so young.
To be remembered as a good person truly shows their worth in this world ..
Maybe it is all we should aim for, for not everyone will be remembered for being a good and decent person.
So now I sit a bit tearful...
Back to work and mostly all good, bit of a cough still hanging on, sore throat is back this morning, and bit tired, but then aren't I always a bit tired!
A man last week painting the side of this apartment near the Cruz... on the side this morning..
Doing a great job, and all on his own..
I put my Christmas tree up Tuesday afternoon.. bit early for me, as last few years have either not put one up at all, or left it till Christmas Eve! Got the new tree last December, late, and only lights, so Tuesday bought some beautiful baubles, they look just like bubbles, clear.. and the only other stuff is the old add ons I've been putting out for decades...
We don't feel old, or feel time passing, usually? But it's when you realize you have things for decades, just like mom did, you feel it more.
And this year, above all others so far seems to have passed in a blink of an eye ..
A friend I've known since I was... 13? Said he thinks of it like a rope on a pole, that the circles are slow and wide, but as time goes on the circles get smaller and faster..
Not sure I like that thought, it's good, and certainly feels the truth of it...
Wonder if there's any chance of letting go of the rope and spinning off to find a longer rope?
Or, actually, now I've said that... I think I know what happens.. when we let go before the end;
M.
"The key to happiness is doing what you love, with those you love"
Planter on my terrace yesterday.. the daisy plant was pretty much dead but I planted her next to the rosemary and she seems to be taking it over now..
Absolutely wonderful hallucinogenic dreams last night I hope my phone has chosen a correct word, I'm talking into it .. I mean dream where my mind isn't quite my own because of this virus not because I've taken something!
I asked Google are spiders a good or a bad omen there were several answers and of course we all know about the money spider I don't think I'd realize that it's supposed to be all spiders...
One said..
Did you know that all spiders are believed to be omens of good luck, well apart from tarantulas and black widows. Seeing a spider in your home could mean that good fortune is heading your way, and in particular money!
Some of the other options were dependent on the situation of the dream.. My spiders were in tiny little key cubbies which were in a car so none of that makes any sense at all, I was rummaging around in the little dark boxes looking for something and the spiders were all over my hands and running down my legs onto the ground small ones and large ones!
And I wasn't freaked out at all but then I don't mind spiders...
I guess after playing with a family of black widow spiders with my little mate back in California when I was a toddler didn't worry me then... Why afterwards ..
Actually there's a bit more hallucinating going on watching the TV yesterday I thought I saw something which made no sense cat or a dog under the TV and again just now while I'm reading into my phone I thought I saw something move in the corner of the bedroom must just be me.
I've just had 12 and 1/2 hours sleep some of which I was awake but due to my weird thoughts at the moment I went back to sleep just using those weird thoughts Google can't type in my laughter..
Time to get up and take some tablets and open up the house and get some more fresh air and see how I feel today.
I should just blog out loud no I should just read onto my blog more often and I would get back to blogging more often I'm making no sense I better post this now.
M.
Okay, so!
Had swolen neck glands for a week or two..
Then 7pm Saturday evening I had to go to bed, totally exhausted literally couldn't keep my eyes open..
I was boiling hot but shivering
I'd felt unwell around my kidneys and thought it was a UTI, took myself to hospital Sunday morning, early, too early for the doctors who start at ten.
They found nothing, unsurprisingly now it seems,. although she gave me those awful blood red pain killers and some anti sickness meds.. after an intravenous of pain meds which helped..
I went home and went to bed and slept until Monday..
Monday did a Sars test which turned positive immediately.. no hanging about for fifteen minutes..
Tonight now my voice sounds weird!
It's ever evolving it seems as my body fights the virus somewhere it attacks another bit!
I have eaten a small bowl of homemade soup today, first real food since Saturday lunch time..
Was good to be doing something, but then ate and exhausted and stomach feels way too full and not happy now..
But at least I made it, and at least I ate it.
My symptoms so far the curious! Or those Googling 2023 COVID SARS virus
Jaw ache
Raised glands neck and under arms
Earache
Cough
Sudden agonising piercing headaches, over and over again all day...
Muscle ache especially back arms legs
Stomachache
Extreme tiredness
Sore throat
Tight breathing
Mouth tastes bad
Itchy skin
Not hungry
M.
Our chances are gone before we know it...
I'm driving down to work and I'm afraid this post won't be for the faint haunted, for some reason feeling considerably depressed this morning and wondering about things like my bucket list what I have still to do on it... and then thinking you know it doesn't really matter about anything on my bucket list who cares! and then I thought is there really truly anything that I want to see more often to do more of... and obviously with family and people I love .. yes yes and yes.. and then as I came around the side of the mountain and saw the ocean laid out before me... To the right what looked like islands... Six or seven.. they were just clouds, low and .. well island shaped.. but they looked so beautiful .. then to my left... The rising sun, absolutely amazing to see .. and I know I am so lucky to see this ...
Not 100% feeling better .. probably just bad dreams I've brought through with me, as usual!
But, I also seem to have the last few days really bad pain I think from a kidney stone again, although I'm sure I haven't stopped, twinges most days.. but maybe this is the bigger stone, and it really hurts when I'm sitting down, when I'm driving or if I'm just sort of kneeling or on the floor at work.. it just hurts a lot and so I'm you know should have taken more painkillers this morning.. this is as soon as I get up and start walking around at work, it'll go...
I'm dictating this into my phone... someone in an Audi behind doesn't even need to have his engine running because he's consuming anything coming out of the back of my car! I can't even see his headlights he's so close and it's a good thing you didn't just go to overtake because a motorbike did instead!
Sorry for sad post, I'll be okay once I'm in work... What with happy colleague and wonderful customers!
In all honesty though, we do have some lovely people who come in...
Some not so much! Ha! But, I try to remind myself that for them, we might be the only people they get to talk to all day ..
So some people skills are lacking!!!
Others come in I think just to talk to us! Equally okay, if we're not holding really heavy things at the time or sitting uncomfortabley on the hard floor!
My head is definitely mixed today, need sleep and rest.. then more sleep!
An add on here .. it is November 10th.. listed on my calendar as worse day of my life .. it did in fact get worse. But was the day reality hit home, hard
Better post now or never eh!
M.
Talking a bit about the old thought of every seven years we are
It Turns out that each body part has its own very distinct lifespan. The lining of the stomach, constantly under assault by digestive acid, is renewed every few days. But bones are refreshed once a decade. And there are a few parts of you that stay with you from birth to death.
Photograph above taken as I was heading off to work one morning late week, the sun just kissing the summit of the Sierra de Las Nieves...
How strange only just now, because of a friend's post, did I even remember it's Guy Fawkes night..
So I guess it's true... We can indeed forget stuff, after a period of time, when it's not something we need to remember any more ...
Been over twenty years since I went to a fireworks display back in Blighty...
Up our end of town yesterday morning, sat in the chilly street! A beautiful male podenco suddenly appeared from the street opposite, he crossed over, I put out my hand and he came over, sniffed me and walked back up and out of sight from the direction he had come from!!
Saturday afternoon went to a bar in Malaga area, live music and outside, was nice sat out in the sun for while.. just relaxing and enjoying our beautiful autumn weather ..
Should be lots to write! Probably about banking systems and road drivers!
About work? Halloween! Had an absolutely wonderful day at work, we were dressed up! Of course, I wore a dress I've owned for about .. I don't know, well over ten years .. it's black/dark gray, it's a little bit gothic a little bit steam punk.. with an axe through my head! And blood down my neck either side! Dark eyes and my bike boots!!
My colleague was the bride of Dracula! I painted blood from her eyes and dark around her eyes.. white dress with a white veil... So cool!
All the customers were impressed all of them laughed, after the initial surprize factor!
Spent the weekend before with my sister in-law down at Torreblanca end of Fuengirola.. great weekend, after work on Friday straight to her, then Saturday drove us down to Calahonda after coffee with a friend of hers nearby.
At Calahonda we had coffee and some breakfast, next to work, then we went to see her old place near the boardwalk and walked along to Luna beach where we had a cold drink.. we then crossed over and went up towards Lidl and back along the main road to the car!
From there up to Mijas Pueblo via my road, had a really time up at the pueblo ..
But, leaving the carpark road a was forced to stop suddenly and stalled the car...it restarted on three, so no problem...but my power steering had gone!?!
It seemed to correct itself on the road out of the village and we made it back to her apartment okay ...
Sunday morning I called the grúa.. fantastic I hadn't called them for many many years... My car insurance people, in fact twice in over twenty years!! This being the second time, I was sent a link and could view the breakdown guy approach! Amazing!!
So easily pleased!
Anyways, I felt a bit daft as the power steering was okay??? He said if it goes again to turn off the engine and restart!
Who knows!
I do feel a bit weary now, worried about my car failing me.. not sure what to do, but will carry on doing same as always! Carrying on!
M.
Live out of your imagination, not your history.
Stephen Covey - 1932-2012-
21st night of September .. It was so funny on the 20th I noticed I had a reminder for the 21st, clicked on it and read the reminder.. it read 'September 21st' repeat every year..
And I thought what am I supposed to remember?? Ha! The 21st night of September..
Of course! But it took until the 23rd and talking at work to a colleague and I asked him, why did I do that!! And then bam!! Of course!!
With youngest son and his family this week, I arrived Thursday evening of last week.. had five days of sun and warm weather, then yesterday was a bit cloudy and this morning rain.. so been really lucky... I did bring a rain mac but not worn it yet, and just wearing jeans t-shirts..
Sunday we went to Ashridge Forest, we had a great walk, and then cups of tea we drank on tree trunks...
I have been going up there since I was about 8, I am guessing, when my mom met my stepdad, I even learned the basics of driving his old Morris van on the concrete parking area..
But soooooo many cars!! I was shocked!! Never seen it like that before, and we got there about ten! It was crazy busy!! Takes away some of the pleasure seeing it like that, although after walking away from the main drag the people all spread out, it was as good as always...
After our teas I waited down on the ground when the family went up the monument..
We went to a local park yesterday, had a great time on all the rides! I love the swings! Always love the swings!!
Just a big kid still... Or still just a girl who likes to ride the swing high.. feeling the breeze and the rush...
The other day we walked along to Morrisons and bought pumpkins, great value .99p each!
And once home us girls carved our pumpkins! I hadn't done that since ... I cannot remember when in all honesty.
Today we went to Ikea in Milton Keynes, always love Ikea!! As soon as we got there we had lunch, meatballs of course, fries, red berry sauce and gravy! Yum!
With my meal I had a bottle of Vintersaga! A Swedish Festive drink!
Bought a few bits n bobs, obviously I couldn't buy anything to take home, although I did buy a great big star!
I noticed on the way to MK the old pub the White Hart in Hockliffe is now a Harvester, I last went a couple of weeks before I moved to Spain..
And the Little chef has gone at the A5 junction/Heath and Reach.. although I think I knew that already...
As we were driving in Milton Keynes, passing familiar places, I said about the Christmas and the Christmas display there in front of John Lewis's..
Then I said about the snow dome mom and I went in and the Cinderella coach ride.. her and I sat in...
Then I was tears... I miss my mom every day, but haven't cried the loss in a while.. quite a while, don't know where that emotion sprung from..
She's missing so much..
That's something to remember isn't it... When we're gone, that's it, we don't get to the things we could have, should have, would have.
M.
Store talk:
Young couple came into the store, he said 'I'll leave you to get the shopping on the list I'm going to go to McDonald's' and when he came back he had the largest bouquet of flowers for her it was so sweet.. the couple were in their 20s, so beautiful to see their love..
When it's time to pay I say card or cash, because otherwise we're just waiting to find out what they're going to get out of their wallet, and then the majority of them pay with their card, they just wave it in the air which is very very annoying and rude and I've started thanking people for saying "pay with card" at the beginning of the transaction.. the majority of which are young people.. Not sure why people do that! They know we're English speaking? And when paying with their phone, people just wave that at us!! So frustrating! Okay, rant over!
Today! I picked up a friend who I met at a client's when I was in live-in healthcare in England. I collected her from an Airbnb near the coast in Malaga.. very lovely neighborhood! Very unspoilt.
Very California feel.. we drove first to Mijas Pueblo and had a breakfast, typical Spanish, tostada, oil and tomato.. coffees.
I took her around the gardens of Mijas, told her some memories of the walk I have there..
Then I drove us home, showed her my house and we walked down into town, had a cold drink and just enjoyed catching up..
Back up to the car and down to La Cala, parked in the feria ground and walked to the Chiringuito I usually go to, we had lunch and just carried on talking!
Closing with a drive to the airport for her to meet up with the rest of her friends who are arriving today, and then they're all off somewhere for the week!
And when I got home a white feather on the rug! It wasn't there when we came by earlier.. But now there it lays bang in the middle of the red rug in front of the TV unit ..
M.
The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.
William James - 1842-1910 - Philosopher and Psychologist
